A winter storm watch is expected in central Illinois starting this afternoon and through to Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Peoria area has “almost 100% chance” of snow on Sunday afternoon or early evening, with between 2-6 inches expected according to NWS meteorologist John Bumgardner, who said the heaviest snow will fall near Springfield and Decatur. The heaviest snow is expected to fall between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Winter weather forecast: Snow is coming to central Illlinois, with a chilly week to follow
We will update this story with any news of cancellations or postponements from around the Peoria area. Be prepared for whatever is in the Illinois weather forecast with live doppler radar from the National Weather Service below.
Illinois weather radar
(Note: Refresh your browser for the latest radar loop.)
When will it snow in Peoria?
John Bumgardner, meteorologist at National Weather Service Lincoln, said Peoria should expect flakes around mid-to-late afternoon Sunday. The heaviest snow, two to four inches, is expected to fall between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Bumgardner said a dry spot Sunday evening may pause the snow briefly, but could bring freezing drizzle and will be short-lived.
While the next two days may be icy, Bumgardner said the worst of the storm should be over by late morning Monday. However, freezing conditions will remain, with a projected high of 26 degrees and a low of 12.
The rest of the week should be clear of precipitation, Bumgardner said, aside from a 20-30% chance of snow Thursday evening going into Friday.
As of Sunday morning, Peoria saw only traces of snow, but no official snowfall.
Expect parking bans around the Peoria area
On Friday, a few local police departments already issued warnings for possible parking bans, including Washington. Check with local police departments for details in your town.
“Be prepared to move your cars for that Sunday snow so the plows can work curb to curb both for the initial snowfall and for drifting snow from the blizzard winds,” Washington PD wrote on its Facebook page. “Hey, what’s worse than digging your car out of an icy, plow compacted snow drift? Finding a parking ticket on your car once you get there!”
The cty of Peoria has resources for its winter weather planning, including maps and contact numbers. You can find that here.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois winter storm: Forecast updates, snow totals around Peoria
